No.  62. 
GOD'S   PROVIDENCE    A   SOURCE    OF 
COMFORT  AND  COURAGE  TO  CHRIS- 
TIANS. 


There  are  few  persons  who  deny,  in  terms,  the 
Providential  government  of  God.  But  many  adopt 
theories  which  are,  in  truth,  a  practical  denial  of  it. 

I,  Some  contend  that  God  governs  the  world  ex- 
clusively by  general  hues.  That,  in  creation,  he 
imparted  to  the  various  forces,  physical  and  moral, 
certain  qualities  which  continue  unchanged  and  un- 
changeable, and  by  their  interaction  produce  the 
entire  series  of  events. 

Whatever  glory  this  theory  may  be  supposed  to 
reflect  upon  the  Creator,  it  is  utterly  inconsistent 
with  the  idea  of  Providence.  It  represents  God  as 
flinging  the  Universe  from  his  creative  hand,  to  work 
out  its  destiny  unguarded  and  xmchecked.  It  is,  in 
fact,  but  a  disguised  form  of  the  doctrine  of  fate. 
Every  event  is  the  result  of  necessity.  As  the  watch 
marks  the  hour,  or  the  vane  veers  to  the  wind,  be- 
cause they  are  formed  to  do  these  things,  so  man  and 
all  other  -beings  only  accomplish  their  predestined 
and  necessary  ends. 

II.  Others  advocate  a  complex  theory.  As  to 
ordinaiy  individuals  and  common  events,  their  exist- 
ence and  end  result  from  fixed  laws — the  laws  of 
nature-«-but  God  interposes  to  raise  up  distinguished 


characters,  and  to  bring  to  pass  great  events.  His 
Providence,  they  say,  resembles  a  map  upon  which 
are  marked  the  mountains  and  large  rivers,  the  towns 
and  cities;  while  the  hills  and  gently  undulating 
vallies,  the  smaller  streams,  little  villages  and  the 
habitations  of  the  people  are  unnoticed.  National 
calamities  God  orders  and  controls,  great  men  for 
important  crises  he  raises  up  and  guides.  .  But  there 
is  no  eye  ever  watching  over  the  multitude,  no  hand 
providing  for  their  wants,  administering  to  their  hap- 
piness and  soothing  their  sorrows.  God  may  enter, 
the  nalace  of  the  prince,  but  he  passes,  unheeding, 
the  novel  of  the  peasant. 

It  needs  but  little  reflection  to  perceive  the  ab- 
surdity of  this  theory.  Great  events  are  but  the 
aggregate  result  of  innumerable  trivial  causes.  Dis- 
tinguished characters  spring  from  a  long  line'  of  un- 
noted ancestry.  The  revolution  in  which  our  fathers 
battled  with  Great  Britain  for  their  birthright  of 
freedom,  and  which  gave  existence  to  a  nstion  late  so 
prosperous  and  happy,  biit  now  dismembered  and 
groaning  under  wrong  and  oppression,  even  as  the  pen 
of  history  traces  its  origin,  sprang  from  no  one 
mighty  iniquity,  but  from  a  long  continued  series  of 
comparatively  slight  grievances.  If*  Washington 
were  the  Chief  of  a  special  providence,  to  what 
shall  we  ascribe  the  soldiers  who  fought  his  battles  ? 
Could  he  have  achieved  his  success  without  them  ? 

III.  It  is  alike  the  doctrine  of  reason,  and  of 
God's  word,  that  God  governs  the  world.  He  "  hath 
prepared  hi^  throne  in  the  heavens,  and  his  kingdom 
ruleth  over  all."     By   general  laws,  and    by  direct 


interpositions,  he  works  out  his  purposes.     "HedoeA 
his  pleasure  in   the  armies  above  and  in  the  earth 

^'present  in  detail  the  proofs  of  .this,  ^$>^J 
attempted.      Two   passages    of    Scripture    will    sut- 
Sy  illustrate  tie  teaching  of  the  sacred  volume^ 
T   In  the  prayer  which  Jesus  taught  his  disciples. 
occurs  this  petition,  "Give  us  day  by  day  our -d«lj    ■ 
bread  "     Here  then,  the  provident  care  of  God  is 
Lokcd  for  the  supply  of  one  of  the  most —  and 
constantly   recurring   wants. .   The.  P^    B«PP°?" 
God  to  control  all  the  agencies  which  enter  into   he 
production  and  distribution  of  food      This  prayer  is 
I  be  uttered  by  the  thousands    of  christian^      n    ail 
times  and  among   all  nations.     Who  can  fail  to  see, 
£  the  Hght  of  this  simple  and  sublime  direction,  that 
Jesus  regarded  the  providence  of  God  as  at  once 
snecial  and  universal  ?  .  . 

1  2    Those  accustomed  to  read  the  Bible  anticipate, 
as  the  second  reference,  that  discourse  of  our  Saviour 
in  which  he  would  fortify  his  followers  against  anx- 
ious cave-  "  Behold   the  fowls  of  the  air  ;  for  they 
sow  not,  neither  do  they  reap  nor  gather  into  barns  ; 
vefryour  heavenly  Father   feedeth   them      Consider 
Se  allies  of  the  held  how  they  grow  ;  they  toil  not 
netther  do  they  spin:  and  yet  I   say  «**££* 
Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not  agi &?  one  oi 
these."     "  The  very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all  mug 
'bered."     Could  language  be  more,  exp licit  (     tou  d 
lustration   be  more  forcible ?     God  adorns  the  lily 
with  its  beauty..    God  .garners  the  food  of  the pan- 
dering sparrow.  God  number,  the  hair*  of  hi*  people. 


Yes,  God's  hand  is  every  where,  and  in  every  thing. 
"Thou  openest  thy  hand  and  satisfieth  the  desire  of 
every  living  thing."  Anon,  God  would  punish  a 
people  for  their  sins.  The  heavens  become  as  brass, 
and  the  earth  as  iron.  Famine,  gaunt  and  ghastly, 
stalks  forth  in  her  work  of  desolation.  "  The  pesti- 
lence that  walketh  in  dlfrkness"  sweeps  a  generation 
to  its  doom.  War,  ensanguined  and  horriffic,  spreads 
terror  and  death  on  every  side. 

IV.  In  order  to  derive  comfort  and  courage  from 
this  great  truth,  it  must  be  firmly  believed.  A  weak, 
or  a  wavering  faith  may  serve  us  when  skies  are 
bright,  and  favorable  winds  fill  our  sails.  But  when 
the  dark  temj)cst  howls  and  rages  around  us,  we  need 
a>  firm,  unyielding  trust.  Such  a  faith  the  Christian 
should  ever  maintain.  The  Scriptures  at  once  de- 
mand its  exercise,  and  furnish  the  amplest  ground 
upon  which  to  rest  it.  The  character  of  God  as 
therein  revealed;  express  declarations;  incidental 
proof,  and  narratives  illustrative  of  the  divine  gov- 
ernment, all  combine  to  originate  and -sustain  such  a 
faith. 

And  yet  the  pious,  even,  in  periods  of  gi*eat  dis- 
tress, come  to  doubt  of  God's  providential  care. 
David  records  of  himself  many  such  periods  of  dis- 
trust and  despondency.  In  the  xxxi.  Psalm  he  says 
"  I  said  in  my  haste,  I  am  cut  off'  from  before  thine 
eyes."  Such  despondency  is  not  peculiar  to  him. 
Asaph  felt  it.  His  experience  is  recorded  in  the 
lxxiii.  Ps.  As  he  witnessed  the  oppressions  of  the 
good,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  wicked,  and  writhed 
under  personal  suffering,  he   exclaimed,  ■■"  Verily   I 


have  cleansed  my  heart  in  vain  and  washed  my  hands 
in  innocency."  But  when  he  drew  near  to  God  in 
his  sanctuary,  his  doubts  were  removed,  his  complaints 
hushed,  and  with  adoring  gratitude  he  acknowledged 
the  continued  care  of  his  heavenly  Protector.  "Whom 
have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  ?  and  there  is  none  upon 
earth  that  I  desire  besides  thee.  My  flesh  and  my 
heart  faileth,  but  God  is  the  strength  of  my  Iteart 
and  my  portion  forever."  Thus,  too,  David  soon  re- 
covered his  confidence  and  felt  strong  and  joyful  in 
God.  "  I  trusted  in  thee,  0  Lord  :  I  said  thou  art 
my- God.  My  times  are  in  thy  hand."  My  times  of 
suffering  and  deliverance,  of  sorrow  and  of  joy — all 
my  times  are  in  thy  hand.  Nothing  can  befall  me 
but  by  thy  appointment,  or  permission.  Here  I  rest 
confident  and  secure. 

V.  To  our  comfort  and  encouragement  it  is  also 
necessary  to  acquiesce,  heartily,  in  God's  providence. 

One  may  feel  that  God  reigns,  and  that  it  is  useless 
to  contend  with  him,  while  yet  the  heart  shall  rebel 
against  his  government  whenever  it  crosses  its  own 
purposes,  or  mars  its  happiness.  To  man,  with  such 
a  spirit  of  sullen  submission,  there  is,  there  can  be 
nothing  but  apprehension  and  misery.  Like  the  serf 
of  an  Eastern  despot,  he  trembles  though  he  dare  not 
resist,  he  shudders  though  he  dare  not  complain. 

Several  considerations  may  be  mentioned  as  con- 
curring to  produce. a  feeling  of  joyful  acquiescence 
in  the  providence  of  God. 

1.  God  has  a  right  to  reign. 

When  we  admit  the  right  of  government,  every 
correct  principle  and   ingenuous  feeling  prompts  to 


submission.  He  who  rebels  against. rightful  autho 
lty  is  a  traitor.  Resistance  to  usurpation  and  tyrant 
_is  a  virtue,  but  to  resist  rightful  authority  is  amor, 
the  greatest  crimes.  Whenever  the  heart  recoo-nizt 
God  s  absolute  right  of  government,  nothing  b 
depravity  can  lead  to  resistance  or  complaint,    • 

God  made  all  things,  and  he  has  the  right  to  gover 
them.  & 

2.  God  reigns  in  Wisdom. 

Human  rulers,  with  the  best  established  authorit 
and    the    purest   intentions,    may    err.     But    God'' 
government   is  ordered  in  perfect  wisdom.     Ever 
reflecting  man  feels  that  he    is  incompetent  to  self 
protection.     The  intricate  and  multiplied  machines 
of  events  we  cannot  comprehend.     There  are  forces 
known   and  unknown,  constantly  at  work  within  anc 
around  us,  which  we    can   neither    control  nor  with 
stand.^    "  It  is  not  i*n  man  that  walketh.  to  direct  hi? 
stepn."     Who   can    calculate  the  issues  of  an  hour  '< 
Who,  with  prevision  and  steady  hand,  can  direct  his 
bark  over  life's  changing  and  billowv  ocean  to  a  pre- 
determined haven  ?— Alas  !  we  are  blind  and  need  a 
guide.     We  are  helpless  and  need  a  protector.     For 
these  wants  the  all-wise  government  of  God  provides. 
He  seeth  the  end  from  the  beginning:"  -  He   can 
make  no  mistake.     He  is  too  wise  to  err.  . 
3.  _  God  reigns  in  Goodness. 

His  providence  is,  generally,  kind  to  all.  "  He 
maketh  his  sun  to  rise  upon  the  evil  and  upon  the 
good,  and  sendeth  his  rain  upon  the  just  and  upon 
the  unjust."  How  vast  and"  numerous  are  the  bles- 
sings bestowed  upon  mankind— life,  and  health,  and 


1  W .,  ' 

friends    civil   protection    and    domestic   happiness. 
WX  «  His  paths  drop  fatness."     Thus  God,  by  his 
Goodness,  is  constantly    calling   men    to   repentance. 
True    n'any    afflictions  befall  us.     The  good  and  he 
bad  suffer.     But  the  severities  of  God's  providential 
government  are  rather    corrective  than  retributive. 
Especially  is    this  the  case  regarding  God  s  people 
Thev  may  not  enjoy  a   greater  measure  of  earthly 
motpe  it,  or  happiness  than  others.     But  their  af- 
nX^    permitted  by  paternal  love  to  chasten  and 
purify  them,  are  part   of  the  process  by  which  their 
Father  is  preparing  them  for  fuller  and  sweeter  com- 
munion with' himself  in  this  world,  and  for  heaven  at 
th e  end      "All  things  work  together  for  good  to  them 
that  love  God,  to  them-that  are  the  called  according 
to  his  purpose."     When  the  pious  man    can    realize 
these  truths   he   joyfully  acknowledges  God's  provi- 
dence     At  times  mists  may   gather  and  obscure  his 
vision  but  he  has  only  to  recall  the  «  exceeding  great 
anTprecious  promises"  of  the  -Holy  One-to  remem- 
ber how,  through  shadows  dark  as  midnight  he     ed 
old    Jacob   until,  with  tears  of  joy,  he  fell  upon  the 
neck  of  beloved  Joseph  and  exclaimed    «  I  thought 
not  to  see  thy  face,  but  God  hath  shewed  me  by  seed 
also  "  to   reflect  upon  the  mercies  of  God  to  inmselt, 
and'soon  faith  will  re-assert  its  power  and   exclaim, 
"The  Lord  is  good,  a  stronghold  in  the  day  of  trouble, 
and  knoweth  them  that  trust  in  him."   _ 

VI  Such  a  firm,  acquiescing  faith  in  bodsfio- 
vidence  prompts  to  earnest,  believing  prayer  David 
s-iid  "But  I  trusted  in  thee,  O  Lord  ;  I  said,  Thou 
art  my  God.     My  times  are  in  thy  hand. 


PROVIDENCE     OF     GOP. 

1  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way, 

His  wonders  to  perform  : 
He  plants  his  footsteps  in  the  sea, 
And  rides  upon  the  storm. 

2  Deep  in  unfathomable  mines 

Of  never-failing  skill, 
lie  treasures  up  his  bright  designs, 
And  works  his  sovereign  will. 

3  Ye  fearful  saints,  fresh  courage  take,  • 

The  clouds  yj3  so  much  dread 
Are  big  with  mercy,  and  shall  break 
In  blessings  on  your  head. 

4  Judge  not  the  Lord  by  feeble  sense 

But  trust  him  for  his  grace, 
Behind  a  frowning  Providence 
He  hidesa  smiling  face. 

5  His  purposes  will  ripen  fast, 

Unfolding  every  hour  : 
The  bud  may  have  a  bitter  taste, 
But  sweet  will  be  the  flower* 

6  Blind  unbelief  is  sure  to  err, 

And  scan  his  work  in  vain ; 
God  is  his  own  interpreter, 
And  he  will  make  it  plain. 

[Causer, 


